What people do affects the lives of others. All have the opportunity regardless of their age, their wealth base, or their abilities. Consider the life of a little girl protrayed in Russell H. Conwell's book Acres of Diamonds.
Near the turn of the twentieth century, a little girl, Hattie May Wiatt wanted to go to Sunday School. She was turned away because she was told it was "full". As she was crying, the pastor walked over asked her why she was crying. "I can't go to Sunday school," she sobbed. Looking at her appearance, he guessed the reason. She was untidy and messy in appearance.
Taking her by the hand, he took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The little girl was so happy they found room for her. It was when she went to bed that night, she found herself thinking of the children who have no place to go to Sunday school.
Some two years later, the little girl died. Her parents called for the pastor who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was moved, a worn and wrinkled purse was found. Its appearance suggested that it may have come from a trash dump. Upon opening up the purse, it was discovered that the coins totaled 57 cents. There was note scrawled in childlike handwriting that read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school." The little girl had saved for two years this offering of love. Although she had the least to offer, she wanted to help others.
Upon reading the note, the pastor was moved to take action. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of the little girl's unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for a larger building. A newspaper learned of the story and published it. A realtor read the story and offered the church a parcel of land worth thousands of dollars. He was told the church could not pay the asking price. The realtor then offered the land for 57 cents.
Soon church members were making large donations. As the story spread, men and women from far and wide sent in their cheques. Within five years, the little girl's gift, driven by her desire to help other kids go to Sunday school, had increased $250,000. This was an incredibly huge sun of money for the era. However, it was that one small action, by one little girl, that resulted in paying huge dividends. Her action influenced the pastor's action, which influenced the realtor's actions, which influenced people from all over the country.
What can one little girl shape with 57 cents? If you want to know, look up Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia with a seating capacity of 3,300. Look up Temple University where thousands of students are trained. Look up the Good Samaritan Hospital. Make sure you also observe the Sunday school building at Temple that houses hundreds of Sunday schoolers so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.
You may read some other versions of the story, but please do not miss the message. The details may become a stumbling block for you and the trees for the forest may be missed! So what is the message?
We can be assured that buying into the lie that I CAN ONLY DO A LITTLE will only negate that LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT. If the little girl had bought the lie, "I don't matter", the lives of thousands of people would not have benefitted. With 57 cents collected over two years, and a passion to help others, her attitude became contagious. The contagion spread, inspiring others. Your gift to the Lord's work may be contagious. Try it!
